Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel is running for governor, but from across the state, he injected himself into a local municipal controversy this week as he issued a statement sharply criticizing Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's last-minute decision to veto a prevailing wage bill.

The move was in keeping with the Democrat's strategy of positioning himself on the left of the wide-open Democratic field. From the day of his entry in the five-person race, Mr. Hoeffel has spotlighted his liberal positions on social issues, including abortion rights. The former congressman favors abortion rights, as do his Eastern Pennsylvania rivals, Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox and Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty. The other Democratic contenders, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and Auditor General Jack Wagner, are anti-abortion.

In a statement describing his disappointing fundraising totals for the past year -- roughly $400,000 compared to a self-described goal of $1 million -- Mr. Hoeffel contended that his liberal base in the populous Philadelphia suburbs would nonetheless keep his candidacy on track.

"My progressive message is very much in sync with Democratic primary voters across Pennsylvania and I have by far the strongest base of support in southeastern [Pennsylvania]," he said, adding that his message would, "persuade and excite Democratic primary voters who are eager to see our state embrace true progressive leadership."

Mr. Hoeffel's intervention in the city of Pittsburgh dispute reverberated in the competition for the Democratic nomination in that its target, Mr. Ravenstahl, is a close ally of Mr. Onorato, who is one of Mr. Hoeffel's chief competitors. The North Side native is expected to report a fundraising total later this month that will dwarf Mr. Hoeffel's war chest.

Speaking after Mr. Ravenstahl's inauguration earlier this week, Mr. Onorato professed to be unconcerned by Mr. Hoeffel's foray into his political backyard, or by his overall strategy of more liberal elements of the party's base.

"I think Mr. Hoeffel may be surprised by the support I have with progressives, including progressives in [southeastern Pennsylvania]," Mr. Onorato said.

Asked for his reaction to the veto, Mr. Onorato declined to criticize his North Side neighbor. Without offering details, however, Mr. Onorato did say that he favored the general concept of a prevailing wage for projects supported by local government economic development funds.

Despite Mr. Hoeffel's embrace of the Pittsburgh proposal, his own county has no similar measure on its books.

However, his co-campaign manager Lauren Townsend said he likes the idea and added that he had directed his staff to explore the idea of a similar requirement for Montgomery County.

A new campaign staff member, Matt Merriman-Preston, who has an extensive resume in local policy and politics, alerted Mr. Hoeffel to the Pittsburgh controversy. He was a key campaign strategist in Pittsburgh Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak's upset City Council victory last year. More recently, he worked on Kevin Acklin's unsuccessful challenge to Mr. Ravenstahl. Before that, he worked as a campaign aide to figures including state Rep. Chelsa Wagner, D-Brookline, and Pittsburgh Councilman William Peduto, a strong supporter of the wage legislation.

"He was the only [gubernatorial candidate] who was willing to weigh in on the prevailing wage and I respect that," Mr. Peduto said.

After his inauguration Monday, Mr. Ravenstahl told reporters that despite his concerns about the bill, he hoped to work with council members on some compromise version of the initiative. But Mr. Peduto said he expected his colleague, Councilman Doug Shields, to introduce a measure with identical language next Tuesday.

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